How racial inequality in education persists
60 years after Brown v. Board of Education
by Libby Nelson

Sixty years ago today, the Supreme Court struck down the “separate but equal” doctrine in Brown v. Board of Education, ending legal segregation in American schools. It was a historic decision that some now fear is being undermined as schools once again divide by race. Here’s a broader look at some ways that race and educational opportunity have intersected over the past 60 years — and where racial inequity persists today.

The Brown decision really did desegregate schools

Progress was slow in the immediate aftermath of the Brown decision. Southern whites found ways to perpetuate segregation — opening low-tuition private “academies” that shut out black students in response to desegregation orders, for example. Outside the South, protests — violent ones — ensued over busing and other policies meant to ensure racial balance…